Abstract

The spiny dogfish shark of the family Squalidae is characterised by the absence of anal
fin, and the two dorsal fins often possess a short or long spine on their anterior margin. Dogfish sharks, often occur in shoals and are caught by trawlers at greater depths. The present account is the first on the occurrence of the dogfish shark Centrophorus moluccensis from the Gulf of Mannar and indicates the availability of a new potentially economic shark resource in deeper waters off Veerapandianpatnam. The present report deals with a rare case of landing of the spiny dogfish shark Centrophorus moluccensis Bleeker in the drift gillnet fishery at Veerapandianpatnam (Lat. 8°29'N.Long. 78°07'E) landing centre in the Gulf of Mannar